Politics
Politics

Georgia Legislature Today: A wide-open post-adoption session

2/5/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Bert Reeves (left), R - Marietta, sponsor of HB 159, the adoption bill, and house speaker David Ralston, react to the passage of the bill during a press conference after the senate vote. he Georgia Senate passed a compromise over a major overhaul to make adoptions easier in the state. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
2/5/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Bert Reeves (left), R - Marietta, sponsor of HB 159, the adoption bill, and house speaker David Ralston, react to the passage of the bill during a press conference after the senate vote. he Georgia Senate passed a compromise over a major overhaul to make adoptions easier in the state. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
Feb 6, 2018

The Georgia General Assembly at a glance for Tuesday, Day 16 of the 2018 legislative session:

Fresh start: Now that the rewrite of Georgia's adoption laws has passed the Legislature, lawmakers can look toward other priorities. Those issues include the state's budget, taxes, transportation and rural internet.

Midyear budget: The full Georgia House might vote on the state's $306 million amended budget for the 2018 fiscal year, which runs through June 30. The spending will primarily pay for public school and healthcare expenses.

On the floor: The Senate might vote on Senate Bill 315, which would make it a crime to log onto a computer without permission.

In committee: A bill that would allow Sunday alcohol sales to start at 11 a.m. will be reconsidered by the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. Senate Bill 17, which had previously passed out of committee, would move the pour time from 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

The February 2nd, 2018 edition of Georgia Legislative Week in Review with Mark Neisse, Maya T. Prabhu and the Phrase of the Week by James Salzer. Video by Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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